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Open space eyed for bike park, disc golf course

A formerly tamarisk-choked swath of land could become a mountain bike park and disc golf course under a proposal being developed by the city of Fruita and local recreation organizations.

City parks and recreation officials this summer are expected to ask the City Council to approve a site design plan for a 35-acre tract sandwiched between Colorado Highway 340 and the Kings View subdivision. The land touches the northeast corner of the Snooks Bottom Open Space Park.

The city purchased the property, known as the Kings View Open Space, about 10 years ago with the help of a Great Outdoors Colorado grant. Council members identified the Kings View Open Space as a potential park during the development of the city’s Parks, Open Space and Trails Master Plan in the last two years, Parks and Recreation Director Ture Nycum said.

The Tamarisk Coalition secured grants from Alpine Bank and ConocoPhillips to remove tamarisk and craft a revegetation plan. City officials plan to spend $40,000 this year on tamarisk removal and site preparation, Nycum said.

In the meantime, the city is working with the Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Association and the Grand Valley Disc Golf Club to design amenities for the land.

Many of the details and costs still need to be worked out, but initial plans call for an 18-hole disc golf course and a mountain bike park that could include a single-track trail and other features to allow bikers to learn etiquette and practice their skills.

Nycum said although there is a disc golf course at Fruita’s Little Salt Wash Park, there is demand for additional venues.

“It just seems like there’s more and more use of that park over there,” he said.

COPMOBA President Chris Muhr said development of the mountain bike park could be done in phases, starting with a single-track trail and building over time to include a pump track, jumps and bridges. Riders could practice at the park before heading out to the Kokopelli Trail or the North Fruita Desert.

“The idea is that they can take these skills they develop out to the trails and not only enjoy themselves but be safer and know what their limits are,” Muhr said.

Muhr said it’s possible that COPMOBA members would donate time and equipment to help build the mountain bike park.

Council members have pushed to fast-track the development of the open space, but Nycum said no timeline has been set for opening the disc golf course and mountain bike park.